Tape dispenser



Jan. 17, 1956 w. E. GRAY EFAL TAPE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1, 1954 INVENTORS. MEEEN E. 02/1), 1 Bel/v7 Eon/A205,

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Jan. 17, 1956 w. E. GRAY ETAL 2,730,990

TAPE DISPENSER Filed March 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

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United States Patent TAPE DISPENSER Warren E. Gray, Van Nnys, and Fredrick Brint Edwards, Woodland Hills, Calif.

Application March 1, 1954, Serial N 0. 413,286

3 Claims. (Cl. 118235) The present invention relates to a tape dispenser.

Specifically the dispenser is adapted to hold roll tape of any form, which is to say, paper, cloth, plastic, or other material, which has an adhesive face and may or may not have a strip backing covering the adhesive.

The dispenser is particularly adaptable for use with roll vinyl decalcomania tape, which tape has an adhesive surface usually coveed by a paper backing, which must be stripped from the tape prior to using the tape, and the adhesive of which must be activated by some liquid.

Vinyl decalcomania type tape is extensively used in industry, as it adheres to a surface with tenacity and is difficult to remove. Tape of this type is manufactured in colors and has imprinted thereon various notations, such as arrows, and other code symbols of direct use in the application thereof to parts used in industry.

An object of the invention is the provision of mechanism which must be actuated by an operator before the adhesive face of the tape can be activated, and which mechanism renders it difficult to dispense tape from the device unless the mechanism has been properly actuated.

Other objects include a dispenser which is inexpensive in cost of manufacture, of few parts, fool proof in operation, and generally superior to dispensers now known to the inventors.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawings, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of the tape dispenser as an entirety,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, partially sectional view, showing certain parts of the invention in changed position from that of Figure l, and,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the tape dispensing end of the invention, the cover being shown in transverse section. 7

Referring now with particularity to the drawings, we have provided a base plate 1 having cushioned feet 2 and a side frame member 3 formed with a flange 4 in substantial right angular relationship to the side frame, and which flange is secured to the upper surface of the base plate 1 in any appropriate manner. As the side frame member is adapted to carry the mechanism making up the dispenser, said frame member is so constructed as to have strength and rigidity, and to lighten the same, the side frame member may have cut out portions, such as illustrated at 5. Any geometrical form of side frame member may be utilized, that in the drawing being substantially polygonal in outline. An external enlargement is provided at 6 for the said frame, and extending from said enlargement is a shaft 7 which receives the hub of a roller 8. The roller may be defined as fluted or as provided with tapered transverse ribs for receiving "ice work 9, which in this instance comprises an annular roll of tape such as a vinyl plastic tape pi'ovided with a dry adhesive backing or face, and likewise provided with a protective backing strip covering the adhesive. Extending transversely of and at substantially right angles to the side frame member 3 is a pin 10 carrying a sleeve 11. A pair of spaced arms, designated as 12, are secured to and extend from the sleeve 11, the outer ends of said arms being interconnected by an angle-member l3. Bent around the sleeve 11 is one end of a stripper blade 14, this blade being secured to one leg of the angle member 13 for bracingthe said stripper blade. As shown in the drawings, the stripper blade is. curved, and said blade is adapted to separate the backing strip from the tape,-as hereinafter set forth. A coil springlS has one end thereof secured to the angle member 13, while the other end is secured to a post 16 fastened to the base 1. Thus, the stripper blade is always urged to move toward the roll of tape 9 and to be tangent to the surface of said roll.

A well member, designated generally as 17, is provided with a pair of spaced parallel side extensions 18, which extensions are carried on a pin 19 secured to the side frame 3 to provide a rockable mounting for the well member. The well member may take any geometrical form in cross section desired, and the well member is adapted to hold a liquid of some type, which is a solvent for the adhesive on the tape. The well member is provided with a pair of spaced parallel side walls 20 and 21, which merge with end walls (not shown), between which walls is fitted a wick 22, of felt or other material, one end of which wick dips within liquid held by the well member, while the opposite end extends outwardly from between the walls 20 and 21, as shown in Figure 2. Preferably, the walls 20 and 21 are at an angle to the base wall 23 of the well member for holding the wick at a certain angularity, as more fully set forth in the statement of operation.

Positioned beneath the well member, and specifically the base 23 thereof, and secured to the base 1, is a member 24 having parallel ends 25 and 26. An elongated cam 27 is positioned between the ends 25 and 26, and a U-shaped lever 28 has one leg thereof passed. through a bore in the cam 27 and through the end members 25 and 26, the said leg being secured fixedly to the cam in any approved manner. The other parallel leg 29 extends transversely of one end of the dispenser when said lever is in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. The nose of the cam is adapted to engage the base 23 of the well member to raise or lower the same when the lever 28 is rocked, in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. An L-shaped tube 129 has one end in communication with the interior of the well member, while its opposite end is adapted for engagement with the neck of a can 30, which holds solvent liquid for the adhesive on the tape. Upper rollers 31, 32 are mounted upon suitable pins which extend from the side framing 3, while pins carrying polyethylene sleeves 33, 34 are below the rollers and staggered relative thereto, as best shown in Figure 2. Immediately above the roller 32 and secured to a bracket 35 is a cutter blade 36, which blade may have a serrated edge, as shown in Figure 3. As shown in the drawings, and particularly in Figure 3, the side frame member 3 is enlarged externally wherever bolts or pins are extended therethrough, for the purpose of carrying rollers or sleeves, to give rigidity to the construction.

To complete the device, a cover 37 is provided, which cover has an end wall, side walls and a top wall, to overlie the mechanism and the side framing in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The front of the cover is open at 38 to allow passage of tape therethrough, and the rear wall is provided with a slot at 39 to permit passage of the protective backing strip. The device likewise contemplates a member 46 which acts as a guide for the backing strip.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described are as follows:

When the cover 37 is removed from the base 1, a roll of tape may be placed upon the roller 8. Assuming that the tape is of the vinyl plastic type having a dry adhesive back face, such tape, as is well known, is provided with a paper protective backing strip which overlies the adhesive. This paper strip must be separated from the vinyl plastic tape and, accordingly, the stripper blade 14, which is spring actuated to always move the same into contact with the roll of tape and tangentially thereto, is so positioned as to separate the paper strip 41 from that portion of the tape indicated at 42. The vinyl plastic tape is brought forwardly and'between the staggered or oifset rollers 31 and 32, thence between the rollers 33 and 34. The well member is filled with some liquid which will act as a solvent for the adhesive on the tape, and an active solvent for this purpose may be the cyclic and unsaturated ketones, such as cyclopentanone, isophorone, cyclohexanone, and mesityloxide, all of which are slow evaporating solvents. In using tape of the character stated, it is essential that the tape, after the solvent has been applied to the adhesive surface thereof, be utilized at as early a time as possible.

As shown in Figure 2, the wick 22 is out of contact with that portion of the tape lying between the rollers 31 to 34, inclusive, and the upper leg 29 of the lever is so positioned that the end of the tape falls downwardly from roller 34. The operator, therefore, knows that the adhesive on the tape is not being activated and, therefore, that it is essential that the lever be moved downwardly to the position of Figure l, whereupon an edge of the wick is brought in contact with the adhesive surface of the tape and tensions the tape between the rollers. If the tape is now pulled by the operator, a selected length may be severed by bringing the tape into contact with the serrated edge of blade 36, and the moment that the tape is cut, it will again drop downwardly in the manner shown in Figure 2. The tape should be used, as previously stated, at as early a time as convenient, and usually not longer than five minutes after activating the adhesive surface. It has been found that vinyl. plastic type, the adhesive surface of which has been activated, will adhere'very strenuously to any surface which it engages. As a rule, after a'given amount of tape is used, and the dispenser is not to be further used for a period of time,

the lever is swung from the position of Figure l to that of Figure 2, to obstruct the pulling of the tape from between the rollers 33 and 34. 7

As shown, various widths of tape may be utilized in the machine, the paper backing from the tape moving out same during tape movement, a pair of spaced-apart rollers over which said tape is passed, and means for applying an activating medium to the adhesive of said tape and for tensioning the tape during passage thereof over the rollers.

2. In a. device of the character disclosed: a framing, means carried by the framing for supporting a roll of tape having an adhesive backing and a protective backing strip, a stripper blade swingingly carried at one end'by said framing, the opposite end of said blade adapted to be interposed between the tape and the protective backing strip tangentially to said roll, a pair of spaced rollers. carried by the framing, a pair of pins immediately below and adjacent to said rollers, said tape adapted to be passed between the rollers and said pins, a well and its wick, said well adapted to hold a medium for activating the adhesive on the tape, said well being swingingly mounted to said framing, a cam positioned beneath the well, and an arm for moving the cam, said arm when in raised position lowering the well and when said arm is in a lowered position, raising said well between the rollers and pins for wick engagement with the adhesive surface of the tape.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2; said arm having a portion paralleling the rollers and pins and so positioned as to obstruct contact with the tape when the armis in raised position. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 759,675 Colvin May 10, 1904 1,166,074 I Ostrom Dec. 28, 1915 2,035,373 Phillips Mar. 24, 1936 

